Burke Is Hot but Vigilantes Lose to Bend

The Vigilantes’ Alan Burke continued his hot hitting but Mission Viejo lost to host Bend, 7-5, in a Western League baseball game Sunday.

Burke hit a pair of home runs and drove in three runs but the Vigilantes (7-10) fell five games behind Sonoma County and Chico, which are tied for first in the Southern Division.

Burke had a grand slam and three-run double and finished with eight runs batted in as the Vigilantes beat Bend, 13-12, Saturday.

Burke has 16 home runs and 67 RBIs through 62 games this season. He hit 17 home runs and drove in 77 runs in 89 games last year.

Burke hit a two-run homer in the first inning and added another homer in the fourth. Manny Gagliano hit a homer in the sixth to give the Vigilantes a 4-1 lead.

But Bend (8-9) got two in the sixth then four in the eighth to take a 7-4 lead.

The Vigilantes tried to rally in the ninth as Bodie Shepherd got hit by a pitch with two outs and scored on a double by Robert Muro.

But pinch-hitter Phil Kernan grounded out to end the game.

Brent Hansen (5-5) gave up 11 hits and seven runs, five earned, to take the loss.